Mind blowing Health Benefits of Poppy Seeds

       

• Mineral source - Poppy seeds act as source for a variety of minerals like iodine, manganese, magnesium, zinc and copper.
• Other important ingredients – Poppy seeds also offer a number of ingredients, which include thiamine, riboflavin, lecithin, oxalic acid, pentosans and amorphous alkaloid.
• Enzymes - Poppy seeds also help in enhancing the enzymes like diastase, emulsin, lipase and nuclease in the human body.
• Fatty acids - These seeds are also good sources of fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids, which are required by human body to ensure good health. Thus, you may consume these seeds in various forms and foods to supply these acids to body.
• Carbohydrates - Poppy seeds may also be considered as good sources of carbohydrates and thus, these are helpful in enhancing the level of energy supplied to human body for routine functions.
• Digestion - Poppy seeds are also considered as useful remedies for facilitating effective process of digestion in human body.
• Seeds oil - Poppy seed oil is also used as condiment to add flavor to different types of recipes.
• Heart diseases - The presence of linoleic acid in poppy seeds protect human body from heart attacks and other heart disorders.
• Breast cancer - The oil made from poppy seeds is helpful in treating breast cancer, as it contains oleic acid.

[dropcap cap="P"]oppy seeds come from the poppy flower seed pod, which is harvested once the flowers have wilted and the seed pod has slightly opened up after drying. The very word 'poppy' suggest opium and narcotics, and thus, has gotten itself a bad name, though its use as a culinary spice dates back to the middle ages, and presently it's widely used in bagels, confectionery and gravies. Poppy is grown for its medicinal, culinary and ornamental value. The most commonly grown specie, Papaver somniferum is widely grown and monitored by agencies to keep a check on its narcotic value and flow. This species name, somniferum, literally means sleep inducing. More new cultivators are being introduced for making poppy seeds more conducive for consumption. Culinary use poppy seeds have none, or few alkaloids that comprise the narcotic in them, making them safer for consumption. Poppy seeds nutrition facts have been mentioned below.[/dropcap]

Poppy Seeds Nutrition FactsThe below mentioned nutrition facts of poppy seeds is for one tablespoon of poppy seeds, which is approximately equivalent to 9g.

Nutrient	Nutritional Value
Calories	45.9
Calcium	126 mg
Protein	1.6 mg
Potassium	62.9 mg
Magnesium	30.4 mg
Phosphorous	76.1 mg
Sodium	2.3 mg
Carbohydrates	2.5 g

Poppy Seeds Nutritional BenefitsPoppy seeds add a distinct flavor and taste to food. But that is not the only reason why they are consumed; poppy seeds provide quite a number of health benefits too. Poppy seeds are considered to be an excellent source of vital minerals like magnesium, zinc, calcium, etc. that are needed for the smooth functioning of all human organs. As they provide the body with a good source of carbohydrates, they add loads of energy in the body. Their fatty acids aid in digestion as well as supplying other important acids required to break down food in the stomach. Poppy seeds contain linoleic acid and oleic acid. Linoleic acid protects the heart from many heart diseases and conditions, while oleic acid is known to help in prevention of breast cancer. Calories in poppy seeds is also comparatively less than other spices and herbs.

As it does not contain a lot of alkaloids, one of the poppy seeds nutrition facts is that it is used to treat all kinds of nervous disorders. It is given in minimum quantities to treat insomnia. It also helps to alleviate asthma and whooping cough symptoms. It is also used to treat diarrhea and other stomach related conditions. Its use in medicinal products and medicines is highly regulated though. Oil extracted from poppy seeds is also used to make drugs and medicines.

How to Use Poppy SeedsOne can use both black and white poppy seeds for cooking or baking a variety of food items. They are used very commonly while making bagels, bread, cakes and muffins. They can be roasted or eaten raw, sprinkled on salads, or in salad dressings, while baking and cooking pastas and vegetables. They are available as seeds, powder and oil too.

The above mentioned poppy seeds nutrition facts prove that poppy seeds will provide you with a good amount of vital nutrients, so incorporate them regularly in your diet, but make sure you pick good quality seeds only!

Poppy seeds are small nutty and blue-grey seeds found inside the capsules on Papaveraceae somniferum, which is yellowish-brown opium plant. It is aboriginal to Mediterranean region. It is the dried seed version of Papaver version of the Papaver somniferum somniferum, which has the appearance of erectly built yearly herb.

The plant is of the length of 50-150 cms, with the stem being 0.5-1.5 cms in its thickness. The steam is shiny as well as smooth to the extent of being hairless with a thick waxen coating.

The origin of these poppy seeds is considered to be from Western Mediterranean area of Europe which took very less time to spread into the Orient. The Greeks were familiar with poppy seeds which reached India through Silk route in the 7th century. During the 19th century, Europeans were trafficking opium, which was money-making business proposition for them. It had become very trade-friendly in the British Raj.

Now in India, Poppy seed cultivation takes place in the foothills of the Himalaya mountain range.

Health Benefits of Poppy Seeds

1. Helps in treating asthma. Take about half a teaspoonful of poppy seeds.
2. Good for cough. For this also one can take half a teaspoonful of the poppy seeds.
3. Beneficial for nervous disorders.
4. Helps cure insomnia. Make a paste of 4 gms of poppy seeds and have it twice daily.
5. Useful in treating diarrhea. For this a paste of 3/4 gms of poppy seeds is very beneficial.
6. One can apply a poultice made of poppy seeds on the areas which are swollen or painful.
7. Add flavor to several foods such as rolls, bread, cakes and cookies.
8. The grinded form can used to dish up various desserts.
9. Poppy seeds are used to thicken various sauces.
10. The seeds are useful for making of opium, which is a useful for herbal remedy.
11. Poppy seeds mare made of minerals such as manganese, iodine, magnesium, copper and zinc.
12. Other ingredients such as thiamine, lecithin, riboflavin, oxalic acid, amorphous alkaloid and pentosans are also found in poppy seeds.
13. Poppy seeds increase enzymes, emulsin, nuclease, lipase in the human body.
14. These seeds happen to be good source pf Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health.
15. Poppy seeds also contain carbohydrates.
16. Help in digestion.
17. The linoleic acid found in poppy seeds protects one from having heart attack as well as other heart diseases.
18. The oil prepared from poppy seeds can be used to treat breast cancer.
19. It is also used as a condiment to t flavor different recipes.
20. These seeds are also used in cooking for flavor and aroma.

Poppy seeds are not only popular for their opium content and are also used to flavor several recipes.